Caroline stares down at the faded picture of Sydney, love and contempt brewing in her stomach. The carriage rattles and wobbles on the dirt path. Hopefully it will turn smooth soon enough. The young templar can't stand too much road travel without getting sick. 

Caroline rubs her thumb across the face of her dead fiancé, his cheerful laugh ringing in her ears. 

A sudden tap at the window pulls her back from the past. Before...[i]them[/i]. 

Caroline stuffs the locket back down her dress. 

The choufer opens the door and extends a gloved hand towards the veteran templar. 

"Thank you," Caroline says in her soft southern accent. It didn't sound like the slurs of the white trash or the slaves and the soldiers, but like a belle. 

Caroline kept her hat dipped over the left side of her face, hiding her grotesque eye and scar. 

The veteran walks at a slow gait, her old plantation habits coming into play. As she approached the main hall doors, she noticed two soldiers, one cradling his hand to his chest, the other poking at his frayed collar.

Caroline stops in front of the soldiers, waiting for their eyes to finally land upon her.

"Hello," she says lightly. "May I go through?"

The soldier with the torn collar opens his mouth, but the other one speaks before him. 

"Miss, ya dun wanna go down there. Why don't my comrade here guide ya to the exit?" His accent is blurred by drawls. Must be from Alabama or Mississpi, maybe deep in Georgia. 

Caroline smiles, flashing her teeth. "Before your friend does that, please let me thank you for your service. I know these few months have been beneficial for the great Confederacy, but our boys have suffered."

Both men blush for a moment, but then they stiffen their spines, not wanting to acknowledge their struggles.

"Now," Caroline continues, her fingers trail the tip of her hat. "Please step aside." The templar tilts her hat back, her scar and eye slowly coming to light. 

Both soldiers contain a gasp. 

Caroline just smiles at the dazed men. "Once again, thank you." The girl pushes through the doors herself. 

The templar lets herself inside the war room, glancing around. 

"Ms. Cheng," Caroline says. "Nice to see you again. Nice work out there, by the way." Caroline gestures lightly behind her with her hand.